Maserati will soon produce a midsize sport luxury sedan to compete with BMW 5-Series/M5, Mercedes-Benz CLS/AMG, Jaguar XF/XFR, and Cadillac CTS/CTS-V. This car will be of smaller dimensions than the Quattroporte, which is expected to continue. This sedan is slated to start selling around 2014 and will likely be a ‘15 model in the US. This model is included in the product plan but there’s no frozen design and it’s likely that running prototypes would arrive years from now. Maserati has a goal of becoming a “relevant player” within the luxury segments that it has chosen and it believes that offering this new model will allow it to reinforce dealer coverage and brand visibility. The all-new car was mentioned in Maserati’s 2010-’14 business plan, which was recently disclosed by Fiat Group CEO Sergio Marchionne to investors. Two variants are predicted – one to be priced a bit higher than $68,000 (based on recent exchange rates), placing it around the upper V-8 versions of those cars. Meanwhile, the upper version of the Maserati is estimated to cost 20% more. Maserati claims that its DNA (sporty handling, rich-sounding engines, and distinctive style) is safe and is in a “new product package.”
